2-Money exchange & Geneva


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Posted by PPWAU on Friday, 28. December 2007 at 16:43 Bali Time:

We were up very early - I was so excited to be back in Bali, I couldn't sleep. We took a quick stroll along the beach before breakfast. There were a few navy ships just off the coast - I assume because of the UN conference down the road.

After breakfast, we had to walk up the road to the Circle K for some Rp (for the cab!). Cost $6 for the ATM fee and was a 50,000Rp. Machine, so would only give 1.5M. We then hailed a Blue Bird Taxi to take us to the CBA FX Shop on Jl. Legian. Took some Rp from the CBA ATM (checked the balance later, we got just over 8000 Rp per AUD, and only a $1.50 fee, which is reasonable - we are CBA customers). We also changed a little bit of the AUD we had inside the FX shop - 8100 per AUD, no commission. Not bad, I thought - particularly when the money changer in the hotel was only offering 7600!

Mrs PPWAU bought some Polo shirts from one of the many Polo Ralph Lauren shops. She paid too much (fixed prices), but they are good quality (we have some from last trip which are still perfect). I brought a cheap pair of thongs (flip flops, not underwear) from Matahari in Kuta Square (AU$3) and bought PPW JR a few toys for Christmas (Play Dough set, AU$5, Big plane, AU$2). PPW JR even got a lolly pop from a rather skinny Santa in Matahari!

Then in a cab to Jalan Raya Kerobokan to visit Geneva Handicrafts. Wow! I cannot thank the forumites who recommended Geneva enough. What a great place - and good prices. We bought a 1.2m white shell Christmas tree (which we later put a green light in (see photo in link below)) for less than AU$10, lots of gorgeous Christmas decorations, a few small Buddha heads, some stone lanterns, some glass tee light holders, some canvases with various prints and much more!

Without BTF we would never have found Geneva. Thanks for helping us use up the extra baggage allowance - on day two! (...)

I asked the taxi driver to stop for me to get some Bali SIMs. 13,000Rp. each - XL. They set them up for us and they worked fine (in our unlocked 3G phones, one is a Sony Ericsson, the other a Nokia). The driver was very helpful in attempting to translate. I greatly appreciated it and gave him a decent tip.



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